Maternity mattress pad



1954 R. B. TALLEY, JR 3,118,152

MATERNITY MATTRESS PAD Filed May 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Royal B. To ||ey,dn

1964 R. B. TALLEY, JR

MATERNITY MATTRESS PAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1962 INVENTOR. Royal B. Tu|ley,dr

55 flat ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,118,152 MATERNITY MA'ETRESS: PAD Royal B. Talley, EL, 9436 lhillips St., Garner, N.C. Filed May it), 1962, Ser. No. 193,716 1 Elaim. (El. -338) This invention is concerned with a pad that can be placed on a mattress or other sleeping surface by expectant mothers or other persons with enlarged abdomens to assist in sleeping or resting comfortably in a face-down position.

A general object of the invention is to provide a relatively small pad that can be placed on mattresses and the like and which is adapted to comfortably support an enlarged abdomen.

Another general object of the invention is to provide for persons with enlarged abdomens a sleeping pad which can be converted to other purposes.

Another more specific object of the invention is to provide for persons with enlarged abdomens a multisection sleeping pad that can be disassembled so as to form pillows from each section.

Another object is to provide for persons with enlarged abdomens a sleeping pad that includes washable and removable covering over the entire pad including the abdomen supporting surface.

Another object is to utilize a fitted sheet as a means of both covering and retaining together pillow-like sections forming an abdomen supporting pad.

The above and other objects will appear as the description proceeds. In the drawings like numerals have bee used to identify similar parts and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective assembly type view showing pad sections, a fitted sheet cover and a depth adjustment plug made according to the invention.

FIGURE 2 shows the shape of fabric blank used to form the fitted sheet employed with the invention.

FIGURE 3 shows the shape of fabric blank used to form a cover for the abdominal opening.

FlGURE 4 shows the assern led pad of the invention in plan view.

FIGURE 5 shows the assembled pad of FIGURE 4 as viewed from the bottom.

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 4 and as if the adjustment plug were installed.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective assembly view of an alternative embodiment employing individual covers over each pad section.

FlGURE 8 is a plan view showing the embodiment of FIGURE 7 assembled.

FIGURE 9 is a perspective showing how the individual pad sections may be employed as pillows.

This invention in general consists of forming a pad from two symmetrical, relatively thick sections of polystyrene foam, artificial sponge rubber or similar material.

Unlike prior art practices which have taught the use of full length and difficult to clean mattresses with openings adapted to accommodate enlarged abdomens, this invention employs a relatively short, relatively thick pad of artificial sponge or similar material which can be placed on the regular mattress and which has a centrally disposed opening to receive the enlarged abdomen. The pad of the invention is formed of two symmetrical sections of the sponge material with the required opening being divided equally between the sections. Each section genermly resembles a type of throw pillow frequently used by both adults and children in viewing television, reading in bed and the like and when not being used as an abdominal support, both sections may be readily put to such alternative use.

To form the pad, the sections are held together so as to ice form a relatively fiat supporting surface with a central opening. For this purpose, the invention in one embodiment employs a fitted sheet that covers both sections and holds them together in proper relationship. The sheet covers the surface on which the expectant mother lies and covers the opening surface in which the abdominal portion of the body resides during rest. The fitted shee' being easy to launder makes the pad a more acceptable roduct from the viewpoint of cleanliness. in another embodiment, each of the sections is individually covered and they are fastened together to form the pad. By simply unfastening the covers, the pad is immediately converted to two pillows.

in the drawings, ill and 11 represent a pair of symmetrical sections of artificial sponge material which when held together form the desired abdomen supporting pad. As will be seen from the drawings each of the sections includes a hollowed-out portion as at 12 and 13 on one edge which when placed together as indicated form an inverted, substantially frusto-conical shaped opening for receiving the abdomen. The means for retaining the two sections together so as to form the desired pad may vary. However, to get the full benefits of the invention, the means used should be simple and should allow for the individual sections to be easily separated in order that they may be quickly converted to other purposes.

One convenient means of retaining the sections is found in the use of a special fitted sheet as generally indicated at "15. The body of sheet is made from suitable sheeting fabric cut generally in the shape of the body blank indicated at 15 in FIGURE 2. Blank i6 is provided with a hole 17 that coincides with the abdominal opening of the pad and to which is stitched a pair of collar shaped blank 18 and f9 shaped as indicated 2% in FlGURE 3 and which together form a covering over the opening surfaces. As indicated by the dotted lines FIGURE 2, the fabric side, as at 23, folds over the respective side of the pad and the fabric edge, as at 22, folds under the bottom of the pad. The sheet is stitched at each corner as at 23, around the opening as at 2- and where the collar shaped panels join as at 25. Gnce installed over the pad sections, the fitted sheet automatically brings the sections into proper relationship and furnishes an easily washable fabric covering over all of the surfaces of tie pad exposed to the user including a covering shaped to fit over the abdominal opening.

FIGURE 4 illustrates the general appearance of the pad as it appears from the top when ready for use while FIGURE 5 represents the general appearance of the pad when viewed from the bottom and with the fitted sheet in place. Since the size of the expectant mothers abdomen will change during the pre-natal period, the in vention provides for use of a frosts-conical shaped plug 3% which can be inserted in the opening as indicated in FIGURE 1 and in section in FIGURE 6, to vary the depth of the opening so as to adjust to different size abdomen's. Plug 36* for the sake of both comfort and ap pearance is preferably enclosed in a removable sheeting type fabric matching the fabric employed in the sheet.

An alternative arrangement for carrying out the invention is illustrated by FEGURES 7 and 8. In these figures 35 and 36' represent removable fabric covers individually fitted to the contours of the sponge rubber sections it and 11. Since individual pillow covers of this type are well known including the Zipper constructions commonly used for making the same removable, the covers are not otherwise shown in detail. Covers 35 and 36 are each provided with fastening buttons as generally indicated at 37 and 38 in order that the sections it; and 11 may be held in proper abutting relationship to form the pad and abdomen opening. As seen in the top view illustrated by FIGURE din-section pad concept vantages, it is contemplated that instead the split type pad some may wish to employ a relatively short, solid not shown, in conjunction with a fitted sheet as shown having the special abdominal open ing covering. This does realize the advantage of not being required to 11 2e a full lengtn mattress for the purpose and also realizes the further advantage of having easily washable covering over the pad proper as well as over the abdomen opening surfaces which advantages are not found i the prior As previ sly mentioned, one of the pr cipal advantages of the abdomen norting pad of the invention in its preferred embodiment uses by reason of ie til-e pad is read a l trot-ed by EEGURE 9. Sucn use can be made either from the uncovered sections 57% and or from one of the covered secti l. u.ted ZGURE '9. From the viewpoint of product acceptance, it can be seen in summany that the e: sect-ant mother will be 11 och more atrooted to use of pad knowing that the pad has other es once it has served the immediate of supporting enlar ed abdomen.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: A relatively thick and resilient pad for placing on a substantially larger sized mattress and having a centrally located inverted frnsto-eonicnl shaped opening providing an inwardly sloping well adapted to receive and support an enlarged abdomen, said pad being formed from two symmetrical sections having vertically divided frustoconical shaped hollowed out portions which mate to form opening and between which sections said opening is equally disposed, sections being substantially the s' of and adaptable to use as throw pillows and the like; and sanitary cover means for removably securing said sections tightly together in substantially the same re whereby to form said pad and said opening and to said pad adaptable both to supporting said abdomen and furnishing said pillows, said cover means comprising a sheet having fitted corners adapted to be secured to the corners of said pad, a main sheet portion covering the 15 top of said pad an inverted hollow frusto-conical shaped centrally locate section seamed to said main portion and adapted to preserve said opening while covering said wall.

20 References J lted in the tile of this patent UNlTED STATES E ATENT 1,107,683 Malarkey Aug. 18, 1914 2,046,645 Mason July 7, 1936 F 2,562,725 Leto et al July 31, 1951 9 2,651,788 Forwood Sept. 15, 1953 2,765,480 Mueller Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 20,167 Australia Oct. 23, 1935 

